National Republican., 1887-05-13
Retrocession of Alexandria County,

EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: 1t ~ impos-
sibe to escape your logic in this mornings
editorial on the one point that If the retroces-
sion of Alexandria county to the state of Vir.
Eipia be constitutional then Maryland can
have her part of the cession to the District of
Columbia returned her under same forms. II
Is not material that the people OF the UGited
States have one hundred GOD millions of dol-
lars or more On this side of the Potomac, aud
that their seat of government Is here.
A mere majority vote of citizens OF Aleyan'
dria county, Va, without regard to prjperty
or other qualifications. sutiiced to deprive the
their seat OF government in 1876 and If that
act of theirs be constitutional your position Is
irresistible that mere majority of voters. OF tue
present so-callcd District of Columbia. may
merge themselves and territory with Mary
land.
Hells Bottom, Murder Bay. and Holkar's
Division, and such, would, take II, be only
too glad to have your logic proved unsound,
ior now, as In 1916, the rough, rather than tue
taxpayer and staid citizen, would prefer to
return TO the mother state. But do not wish
OF this question prior TO the converting of
Copgrc's. simply desire TO invite your ct
tention to the identical legal nature of the
terms Of &c sion, in 1885,, Of the northwest
territory by the state OF Virginia. That terri
Tory, out OF which have been carved the mighty
states OF Ohio Indiana, Illinois, Michiyln, aud
unto the United statesin Congress assembled
for the benefits OF tho said states, Virginia
inclusive" Surely no one will contend that
mere majority of citizens Of either state, uldsr
some vagnry Of Congress, IN the form of an act,
can now vote themselves back to the mother
state. Ten miles square were ceded, by the
states OF Virginia and Maryland, to the Unite !
States In Congress assembled, to b. the seat Of
government for the benefit of the said states.
Virginia and Maryland included and nothing
short Of constitutional amendment can
divCst the United States OF any portion of
these two cessions of northwest territory ani
ten miles square. Again, power 70 enact Law
necessarily carries power to repeal law. Con-
Can ii not repeal that law! IT Congress ,xt
winter should repeal II, then what? The
supreme Court would. | feet assured. at oute
determine the constitutional status OF Alcxau-
dria county to be with the District of Colum-
bia, and not with the state OF Virginia, Sinco
the opinion rendered By the supreme Court in
1875, in our tax case, hays ID the irmeH
Judgment as to the uncOnatltutionality of the
retrOcession act OF 1916, aud lave only RETAINED
from pressing for its repeal because Of engro IS.
time has come for agitation In and out OF Con-
gress, and am, indeed, thankful that you
hBve inaugurated the movement for righting
the wrong.
With the question which has been repeatedly
asked me-Will the state Of Virginia now con.
sent to the reoccupancy OF Alexandria coulty
by the United States?-I have nothing TO d.;
nor has the state of Virginia. She had no
right whatever 10 assume control of the county
In 1916, nor had Congress the right to delegate
control 10 her. The county belonged TO the
people of the United States, and thev were not
properly consulted in the attempted aliena'
lion. Sleeping on their rights for forty ye lrs
does not bar them from these rights, nor does
TO constitutional rights. Alexandria county Is
as much portion of the body p1litlc as my
native state (Ohio) and should be returnei to
her status prior 10 1916. X. S. LACEY.